One boy and his acoustic guitar acts seem to be springing up all over. It’s all quite quaint and predictable and it seems in this day, the boy who has most friends and does most gigs in their national scene make it, those, regardless of talent, who remain trapped in some sort of local decay, fail.
Meet Rory O’Hara. Dropped out of his up and coming band from York and began writing his own songs in his bedroom with a digital recorder and a trusty acoustic. His E.P “Inside” is a cleverly crafted, maybe predictable (in parts) but damn decent debut effort that is sure to twitch the ears and stimulate the senses of more than a handful of kids up and down the country. Rory seems to have broken into a scene and found his own crop to rest on, and is proving that not all people who say they like hardcore, like hardcore. Infact his record is delicate, it is emotional and theres hardly a angry moment on it, (well except maybe the “get drunk, throw up, fucking grow up” rant in opening song “Wallpaper Loose”) and his additional musicians contributing with cello, and notably ex band mate Jordan Schneider whose brilliant vocal duet in “Speak In Sequence” raise up as the better songs on the CD, bringing to mind American acoustic band The Spill Canvas. “Wallpaper Loose” as mentioned already is a perfect opener, for me it stands out as the song that provides the reason why Rory is performing this way and not following the line in another 5 piece screamo band.
The good thing about playing this way is you rely on yourself, and only yourself. Already the kid has new songs on his myspace, including an amazing cover of “Run To The Hills” by Maiden. He has talent, and is very likeable, and as I mentioned in my review of 2005, this guy is one to watch for 2006.
Pete Punktastic
www.myspace.com/seeseerider